Again, question for Ducks’ Selanne: Retire or not?

The Anaheim Ducks began the season in Helsinki, in Teemu Selanne's native Finland. The local media swarms Selanne after a practice. This has been an eventful year for the Finnish Flash. Click on the <b>PHOTO</b> to see some of the highlights.COURTESY THE ANAHEIM DUCKS

"He's obviously a Hall of Famer," teammate Jason Blake says. "He's been everything to this franchise, everything. If you think of the Ducks, you think of Teemu Selanne."

So, here we are again, approaching the end of another season, thinking of the Ducks without Teemu Selanne.

He says he will make no announcement until probably July 1, after he and the family have returned to Finland for their traditional 10-week stay, after his 41-year-old bones have had the chance to stop rattling, before he attempts to ball up his famous passion one more time and convert it into fuel for a workout regime that allows him to do the impossible, remain one of the game's fastest players despite the wear of 19 NHL seasons on his legs.

Selanne tried to retire once – honest, he really did – after winning the Stanley Cup in 2007. But that passion refused to turn to ash and, by the start of the next February, he was a Duck again.

This time of year ever since, a day like Sunday has arrived, day when Selanne – this time opposite the Edmonton Oilers – could be playing the final home game of his career.

"I still think I can play well," he says. "That's why it's hard to make a decision earlier. If I would be just physically so beat and mentally thinking there's no way I could play at this level, it would be easy. But that's not the case. I'm not the guy who can make a decision eight, 10 months ahead."

Oh, really? Yeah, Teemu, we sort of noticed. His teammates joke about Selanne being the Brett Favre of the NHL. Ryan Getzlaf says he already has collected a stash of Selanne sticks, one from each of Teemu's five "final seasons." Corey Perry insists another one-year deal for Selanne already is sitting in General Manager Bob Murray's office.

But what if this really is it? What if this time is the time? Is this any way to say goodbye to a player legendary, a man beloved? Ducks and Oilers. Two mediocre teams lacking immediate futures, playing garage time.

The greatest individual era in Ducks' history could be ending on mute, while, even worse, being swallowed by a building one-man Mardi Gras, just across the street, for the start of perhaps the greatest individual era in Angels' history.

Can a career spent standing out really conclude with Selanne blending so completing in? It's probably too fairytale to wish for a Stanley Cup as a parting gift. But is it too much to ask for the mere chance to pursue a Cup?

"We kind of let him down this season," defenseman Luca Sbisa says. "Guys like that, going toward the end of their careers, you want to give that extra push for them. You have to feel like we left him down."

The Ducks, who came into the NHL a year after Selanne did, don't have a lot of practice at this. They had a formal night to honor Guy Hebert and a less formal one to recognize Steve Rucchin.

But Paul Kariya departed and did so in ham-handed fashion. Jean-Sebastien Giguere was traded away when the team was on the road. Scott Niedermayer will have a night eventually but probably not before Selanne does.

Of course, the Ducks aren't rushing to say goodbye now because goodbye isn't their idea. They want Selanne back, even need him back. He leads the team this season with 64 points, and the only player to do that at an older age was Gordie Howe.

"I kind of like how Luc Robitaille ended it," Selanne says. "He could prepare for it and the fans could prepare for it. I think that's a nice way to do it. But, in my case, I don't really know at this point."

Related Links

The Anaheim Ducks began the season in Helsinki, in Teemu Selanne's native Finland. The local media swarms Selanne after a practice. This has been an eventful year for the Finnish Flash. Click on the PHOTO to see some of the highlights. COURTESY THE ANAHEIM DUCKS
Oct. 1, 2011: Teemu Selanne boards the airplane at LAX before leaving for the Premiere Games in Finland and Sweden. COURTESY THE ANAHEIM DUCKS
Oct. 1, 2011: The Anaheim Ducks' Teemu Selanne and George Parros arrive at Harwall Areena in Helsinki on Sunday COURTESY THE ANAHEIM DUCKS
Oct. 3, 2011: The Anaheim Ducks' three Finnish players -- Teemu Selanne, left, Saku Koivu, center, and Toni Lydman -- ride the elevator to the practice rink. COURTESY THE ANAHEIM DUCKS
Oct. 4, 2011: From left to right, Jari Kurri, Jokerit team owner and chairman Harry Harkimo and the Ducks' Teemu Selanne take part in a pregame ceremony before the game between the Anaheim Ducks and Jokerit Helsinski. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DUCKS
Oct. 7, 2011: Anaheim Ducks' fans Gary and Tiffany Lowe of Fullerton pose for a photo in front of Teemu Selanne's portrait hanging from Hartwall Areena in Helsinki. TEXT AND PHOTO BY JEFF MILLER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Anaheim Ducks arrive in Helsinki Finland Sunday and have a press conference with their Finnish players. Toni Lydman, Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu. COURTESY THE ANAHEIM DUCKS
Oct. 7, 2011: Three Ducks fans from Finland get a close up view of their favorite team during pregame warmups Tuesday night in Helsinki. TEXT AND PHOTO BY JEFF MILLER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Oct. 4, 2011: Finnish-born Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks is introduced before the game against Jokerit Helsinski. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ANAHEIM DUCKS
Oct. 31, 2011: Anaheim Ducks player Teemu Selanne gets a shave at the Anaheim Ducks Movember Kick-Off event at The Art Of Shaving in Washington, D.C. PAUL MORIGI, GETTY IMAGES FOR THE ART OF SHAVING
Nov. 18, 2011: Anaheim Ducks Teemu Selanne speaks with guests during the 12th Annual Dux in Tux at The Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dec. 17, 2011: Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks speaks with the media at the Fairmont Hotel in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It marked the first time Selanne has returned to play hockey in Winnipeg, where he began his NHL hockey career with the original Winnipeg Jets in 1992. MARIANNE HELM, GETTY IMAGES
Dec. 17, 2011: Teemu Selanne signs the jersey of Winnipeg Jets fan Ryan Cheale after speaking with the media. MARIANNE HELM, GETTY IMAGES
Dec. 17, 2011: Teemu Selanne speaks with the media at the Fairmont Hotel. MARIANNE HELM, GETTY IMAGES
Dec. 17, 2011: A Winnipeg fan shows off his sign for Teemu Selanne during the first time Selanne has returned to play hockey in Winnipeg, where he began his NHL hockey career with the original Winnipeg Jets in 1992. MARIANNE HELM, GETTY IMAGES
Dec. 29, 2011: Anaheim Ducks right wing Teemu Selanne (8) fires a shot toward the goal in the second period of a game against the Vancouver Canucks. CHRISTINE COTTER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jan. 31: Phoenix Coyotes' Adrian Aucoin (33) battles Anaheim Ducks' Teemu Selanne (8) for the puck along the boards. ROSS D. FRANKLIN, AP
Feb. 4: Anaheim Ducks right wing Teemu Selanne enjoys himself during the Skills Showdown at the Honda Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Feb. 12: Anaheim Ducks' Teemu Selanne congratulates teammate Cory Perry after a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets. PAUL VERNON, AP
March 12: Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) and teammate Jan Hejda let the puck slip past for a goal by Anaheim Ducks right winger Teemu Selanne. Selanne reached another milestone by passing boyhood idol Jari Kurri for 19th on the all-time NHL points list. AP PHOTO
March 22: Ducks forward Teemu Selanne and Cody Durham, 17, a CHOC patient, strike a pose on the runway during the Lady Ducks Fashion Show. The annual event has raised more than $350,000 for the hospital over the past four years. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
March 22: Ducks players Francois Beauchemin, left, and Teemu Selanne get dressed for the fifth annual Lady Ducks Fashion Show in Newport Beach. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERBOBBY RYAN Ducks teamamte: “He is a genetic monster.” Click here to see other quotes about Teemu Selanne from teammates and coachesAP PHOTO, TEXT BY JEFF MILLER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.